How to Clean a Computer Keyboard

All kinds of things fall in the cracks between your sweat coated keys. So how do you safely clean your PC's keyboard?

It was a natural progression. After writing about the best ways to clean your computer's innards, screen and software, then the keyboard had to be next.

Look down now at your own key pad. It's disgusting when you really pay attention to it. The keys are covered in grime, all of the sweat from your fingers over time mixing with dust. Worst case scenario, something got spilled onto it.

A rubber membrane protects the electronics underneath. This traps 90% of the dust and grime getting inside.

Keyboards are a little like a layer cake. The top and bottom are hard plastic. This is what you can see and what ends up covered in grime. The base of this collects the bigger foreign objects, like hair and crumbs.

Beneath the keys is a second layer, made of silicon or rubber, accessible only when each key is depressed. Bits of fine dust can trickle through, but you are unlikely to find large pieces down here. To be there, they've literally had to go through the mill. This dust is ground by the motion of the keys.

This rubber mat is protecting the important part of your keyboard's make up. Underneath it are three electrical panels, each carrying your typed commands into your computer's software. You do not want this section to come into contact with liquids.

Cleaning Method Two: The Brush!

For only lightly soiled keyboards, this one is the best option.

Don't you love Wizzley articles that have you pause mid-sentence, to take a photograph of yourself brushing the keyboard that you are currently using?

For keyboards that merely have a few dust bunnies trapped between the keys, then you don't need to go any further than a brush.

There are bespoke brushes that do this (I'm using one in the picture), but you can get exactly the same effect using an old (and dry!) toothbrush or any hard bristle dusting brush. You could even use the pastry brush that you bought for cleaning out the inside of your computer.

You press the bristles between the keys and sweep towards the edges of your keyboard. The bits trapped inside come loose and end up scattered all over your desk.

It's quick and efficient, as far as it goes, but this isn't deep cleaning. Neither is it making your keyboard any more sanitary. You've probably got more germs crawling over the plastic keys under your fingertips, than you have in the toilet bowl. Did you think of that before you helped yourself to another biscuit while typing?

Treat Yourself to a Keyboard and Computer Brush

Buy one of these to have something handy to knock out dust bunnies as they arrive.

Warning! For all of the methods that follow, please ensure that your keyboard is unplugged. This is for your own safety, as electric shocks often hurt. Thank you!

Cleaning Method Three: The Wipes and Swabs!

This is the way to go for blasting the germs and combating the caked and clinging grime.

Some dust is just not leaving your keyboard with a sweep of a brush. This is when you need to apply some sort of cleaner.

There are so many things that you can use, though it's best to remember that you will be touching this with your finger-tips later. Anything that irritates skin is out immediately.

A quick survey of my friends has thrown up rubbing alcohol (but not containing ethyl, as that can remove the letters from your keys), soapy water, denture cleaner, mild disinfectant sprays and actual keyboard cleaner.

Just use your common sense. What would you clean a plastic cup with, if a child was going to drink from it later? Anything stronger than that, you don't want to use.

Image: Wiping a keyboard with a paper towel.

Jo Harrington.

Yes, I have swopped keyboards. I'm using the first one to type this!

Apply a small amount of cleaner to a paper towel or cloth. Don't spray it directly onto the keyboard, as that may drip down. Ensure that your napkin isn't dripping, but just moist. Use that to wipe over the keys and bigger sections of your keyboard.

Obviously, if you have keyboard wipes, don't bother with any of this. Just use the wipes.

Image: Using a cotton wool swab to clean a PC keyboard.

Jo Harrington.

None of this is going to help with the grime caked to the sides of your keys. That's when you moisten a cotton wool swab and get to work there.

All of this will sanitize your keyboard, but it's not really getting at the amassed dirt underneath your keys, nor that on the rubber membrane. It's also reasonably labor intensive.

Cleaning Method Four: Popping The Keys!

You might not realise how easy it is to simply take the keys off. Then you have access to the gunk underneath!

Image: Taking the keys off a computer keyboard.

Jo Harrington

Let me give you a moment to finish recoiling in horror at what lurks behind the keys in that photograph. Then another for the realization to sink in that your keyboard probably looks the same.

It is very easy to remove the keys from a computer's keyboard. I'm using a screwdriver in the picture, but that is overkill. All you need is a slight bit of leverage. A dinner knife would cover it. On some laptop key pads, your finger-nail will do it.

Just find a corner, slide your knife or nail underneath and lever it up. The whole key should just pop right out. If not, then try another corner. Be gentle, as the mechanism holding them in place is plastic. Too much pressure and you'll have it snapping.

Once they're out, then shake away the gunk; or use your brush or vacuum cleaner on it. By all means use wipes or cleaners, but be aware that each gap there is exposing the rubber membrane. Try not to get that wet.

You can clean your keys in a sink with some soapy water. They're only plastic. But ensure that they're bone dry (perhaps leave them airing for a day to make absolutely certain) before slotting them back into place.

Oops! You don't know where to put them back! The wise people take a photograph of their keyboard before removing a thing. But there's a standard lay-out. The image below should point to the most common keys.

Cleaning Method Five: Into the Dishwasher or Sink!

You think I'm joking, don't you? I did say that the final method would be more adventurous!

Look again at what a keyboard is. All the parts getting dirty are above the electronics. Once you remove that section, all you are left with is plastic, metal and rubber.

Since when did you need anything too specialized to clean those?

But first we need to remove the electronics. Time for me to grab keyboard number three (on account of the last one sitting there with no keys in it).

Turn it over and you will find the screws holding the casing together. Mine requires a Philips head screwdriver to remove them. There were eight different screws. Take care not to lose any of them!

Once you've unscrewed the back, then the whole thing should just come apart. If not, look for any plastic catches, or simply grab a leg and pull.

Now that it's in two pieces, gently lift the rubber membrane and shake it out into the bin. Then dump the mat itself into the washing up bowl.

Image: Keyboard's rubber membrane in the washing up bowl.

Jo Harrington.

All that confronts you now cannot be safely cleaned; but nor should it need to be. This section has been protected by all that sat above it.

Look for any screws holding the electrical panels to the bottom part of the casing. There should only be two or three important ones, as you can take this out all in one piece.

Image: Taking the electronic part out of a keyboard.

Jo Harrington

Image: Taking the electrical panel away from a keyboard.

Jo Harrington

Once that part is safely stashed somewhere else, you now have the two halves of the plastic casing.

I've repeatedly heard that the most effective way of cleaning them is to place them onto the top shelf of a dishwasher. Set it to no heat dry, as that might melt or warp it. Off you go! Some people also remove the keys and pop them into a mesh bag, also placed into the dishwasher, for the most thorough clean ever.

Again, wait a day to make sure that it's all bone dry, then screw it all back together again for a keyboard that is as good as new.

I've never done this for the simple reason that I don't own a dishwasher. You can be certain that I would use this method if I did.

I have a choice between two variants. One is to shove the casing into the shower; and the other is to put it into the washing up bowl.

Image: Keyboard in the sink.

Jo Harrington.

Image: The parts that I didn't wash in the sink.

Jo Harrington.

Image: Keyboard on the draining board.

Jo Harrington.

Happy Keyboard Cleaning!

You have had five different methods for cleaning your keyboard here. They each have their pros and cons, with the latter two being more labor intensive and the last meaning you have no keyboard for 24 hours.

Mixing and matching should give you a method to suit your own needs. If you have any questions, then just ask away in the comments.

You will notice from those photographs that the only keyboard which I didn't clean was the black one. A couple of weeks ago, my space bar started to stick, so I opened it up. Let's just say that it was WELL overdue a good clean out. I'm amazed any key still depressed!